Measuring flexibility in autistic adults: Exploring the factor structure of the flexibility scale self report.

Researchers tested a questionnaire that measures how flexible autistic adults are in their daily lives. They found that the best version focuses on three main areas: routines and rituals, handling transitions and change, and special interests. Two other areas (social flexibility and creativity) are measured separately. This gives professionals a better tool to understand flexibility challenges that autistic adults face in real-world situations.

This study evaluated the Flexibility Scale Self Report, an adaptation of a parent-report measure for assessing real-world flexibility challenges in autistic adults. Using two samples (n=813 and n=120 replication), researchers conducted factor analysis to determine the optimal structure of the scale. The original five-factor structure (Routines/Rituals, Transitions/Change, Special Interests, Social Flexibility, Generativity) was modified to a three-factor structure for the total flexibility score, with Social Flexibility and Generativity treated as independent related scales. The revised scale has fewer items and demonstrated consistent structure across both samples, with no differences based on biological sex.

This provides a validated self-report tool for measuring cognitive flexibility in autistic adults.

Provides validated self-report tool for assessing cognitive flexibility in autistic adults across clinical and research settings. The three-factor structure offers targeted assessment of specific flexibility domains, enabling more precise intervention planning and outcome measurement.

Study relied on self-report data which may be subject to bias. Limited information about diagnostic confirmation methods or representativeness of samples. Replication sample was smaller and had different demographic characteristics than primary sample.

Cognitive flexibility differences are common for autistic individuals and have an impact on a range of clinical outcomes. However, there is currently a lack of well validated measurement tools to assess flexibility in adulthood. The Flexibility Scale was originally designed as a parent-report measure of real-world flexibility challenges in youth. The original Flexibility Scale provides a total score and five subscales: Routines and Rituals, Transitions and Change, Special Interests, Social Flexibility, and Generativity.

In this study, we evaluate the factorial validity of the Flexibility Scale as a self-report (Flexibility Scale Self Report) measure of cognitive flexibility, adapted from the original Flexibility Scale, for use by autistic adults. This study includes both a primary sample (n = 813; mean age = 40.3; 59% female) and an independently recruited replication sample (n = 120; mean age = 32.8; 74% female) of individuals who completed the Flexibility Scale Self Report. The analysis consisted of an initial confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the original Flexibility Scale structure, followed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and factor optimization within a structural equation modeling framework to identify the optimal structure for the questionnaire in adults. The identified structure was then replicated through CFA in the replication sample.

Our results indicate an alternative optimal scale structure from the original Flexibility Scale, which includes fewer items, and only three (Routines/Rituals, Transitions and Change, Special Interests) of the five subscales contributing to the flexibility total score. Comparisons revealed no structural differences within the scale based on sex assigned at birth. Here the Generativity and Social Flexibility scales are treated as independent but related scales. The implications for measurement of cognitive flexibility in clinical and research settings, as well as theoretical underpinnings are discussed.